Leadership, generosity recognized at Man and Woman of the Year event

Thursday

Jan 24, 2019 at 10:55 PMJan 25, 2019 at 8:11 AM

Jerry Hodge and LuLu Cowan were officially dubbed the 2018 Amarillo Globe-News Man and Woman of the Year, presented by FirstBank Southwest.

Despite losing two ''larger than life friends" in 2018, it was a banner year for Hodge, a former Amarillo mayor who accepted the honor on Thursday in the Heritage Ballroom of the Amarillo Civic Center.

"We got baseball -- we got the Sod Poodles -- but I gotta tell you, the highlight of 2018 came through DNA testing when I found out Elizabeth Warren wasn't a distant cousin," he said.

Hodge is credited with leaving his footprint in Amarillo, not only with Hodgetown, but also through Maxor National Pharmacy Services, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice William P. Clements Unit, and the Amarillo Club, which he is credited with rescuing from closing.

"He's still working hard for Amarillo," said Former Clothier George Raffkind. "He's out there and helping Amarillo anyway that he can. I think he was right about major league baseball and obviously between the prison ... and hopefully the vet school coming up, Jerry has played a pivotal part."

"Amarillo is the place, I feel like, that made his dreams come true," said Hodge's wife, Margaret. "He bleeds Amarillo. He should be the mascot of Amarillo"

"This award is an honor. I'm very, very humbled," Hodge said. "Never stop dreaming and absolutely never lose your passion for Amarillo. My love for Amarillo started in 1957 on Polk St. and it's grown everyday."

LuLu Cowan got her start serving Amarillo through the Junior League of Amarillo. Specializing in serving those who may have the most need, Cowan has volunteered for many local charities including Mission Amarillo, Buckner Children & Family Services, San Jacinto Elementary School's NO Excuses University Program and the Downtown Women's Center.

"I couldn't think of a person more deserving for a body of work, for her entire life than LuLu Cowan. She is a woman with a servant's heart," said Dr. Paul Matney, former Amarillo College president. "It doesn't matter whether she's working for a church, or the Downtown Women's Center, or Amarillo College, or the many other projects that she is involved in, she is absolutely full steam ahead when she gets involved in something."

"She is willing to ask us to send the prayers that our women need, that Downtown Women's Center needs and she has First Presbyterian Church folks pray for us," said Diann Gilmore, DWC executive director. "There's nothing stronger and more important than that."

"Being an active part of this community has continued to shape what my parents began -- they taught me seek God first and he will direct your path," Cowan said. "Every woman is the woman of the year to the people she serves, befriends and loves. I encourage you to continue to make a difference in your circle of influence."

In other honorable mentions, Loren Lacer and Billy Krause received the Headliner Award; Jordan Herrera, Adrian Meander, Liz Rascon Alaniz, Bowden Jones Jr. and Broc Carter were named Citizens on the Move for making a positive impact in the community.

"We recognize not just saying something about a problem but doing something about a problem," said Amarillo Mayor Ginger Nelson. "We are here to recognize risk taking and bravery, generosity and selflessness; we recognize the genuine, loving kindness that encourages others and puts their needs before our own.

"These are the traits that we recognize today with gratitude but also in hopes that what gets recognized, gets repeated. We need more of these attributes in our world today."

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